Postmenopausal uterine bleeding

When women reach a certain age, they stop having periods, which is known as menopause. After menopause, women generally stop experiencing vaginal bleeding. However, some women find that they have already reached menopause, but their uterus still bleeds. This is very likely a sign of disease, which needs to be taken seriously by women. It is best to go to the hospital for a physical examination as soon as possible. So, what is postmenopausal uterine bleeding?

1. What is postmenopausal uterine bleeding?

Women enter menopause and their periods stop coming. If vaginal bleeding occurs again after more than one year of amenorrhea, it is often an early sign of disease. The most common sites of postmenopausal vaginal bleeding are the vulva, vagina and uterus. The most common and complicated symptom is uterine bleeding. Vaginal bleeding after menopause can be benign or malignant. The more common benign diseases include senile vaginitis, endometritis, cervical polyps, endometrial polyps, uterine stroke syndrome, and prolonged placement of intrauterine contraceptive devices after menopause. The more common malignant diseases include endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, etc. Among them, endometrial cancer accounts for about 80% of postmenopausal bleeding.

2. What diseases can cause postmenopausal uterine bleeding?

1. Malignant tumors

The chance of women with postmenopausal uterine bleeding developing malignant tumors is relatively high, so most people believe that postmenopausal uterine bleeding is a sign of malignant disease. Common malignant tumors that can cause postmenopausal uterine bleeding include endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, and a few ovarian malignancies.

2. Functional uterine bleeding

For postmenopausal women who experience uterine bleeding, more than half of them have no obvious organic lesions after examination. This is mainly due to functional uterine bleeding caused by endocrine disorders, which is the main cause of postmenopausal bleeding.

3. Genital tract inflammation

As women approach menopause, their sex hormone levels will become lower and lower, which will cause the endometrium to gradually atrophy and the vaginal mucosa to atrophy. This can easily lead to a decrease in local resistance and make it easier for bacteria, chlamydia and other pathogenic microorganisms to invade, leading to endometritis, cervicitis and vaginitis. When women develop these inflammations, the superficial capillaries are easily damaged, and a few may form superficial ulcers, which can also cause uterine bleeding. Therefore, some postmenopausal uterine bleeding is related to reproductive tract inflammation and should be treated promptly after detection.